Vocations

God is calling new vocations to the priesthood, religious life and the diaconate. Are you one of them?

Come and Talk With Us!

The Archdiocese of Hartford welcomes inquiries from men seeking to serve the Church as priests or deacons and from men and women who are discerning a vocation to the consecrated life as a religious brother or sister.

To talk about a priestly vocation, contact Father Jeffrey Gubbiotti, Vocation Director, at 860-761-7456 or by email: vocations@aohct.org.For information about religious life and men’s and women’s religious communities, contact Sister Mariette Moan, Vicar for Religious, 860-541-6491.For those seeking information about the diaconate, contact Deacon Robert Pallotti, Director of the Office of the Diaconate, 860-242-5573 ext 7447.

The Office of Vocations – Fostering Vocations to the Priesthood

The Office of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Hartford is committed to fostering quality, faithful, and lasting vocations to the priesthood. To this end, the men in our formation program must be committed disciples of Jesus Christ willing to form their lives in His likeness. St. John Vianney says, “The priest is first of all a man of prayer.” Our vocation program places priority on daily prayer. As our world becomes more materialistic and secular, the people of God need priests who, by word and example, promote the universal call to holiness which is born out of a devoted prayer life, centered in Sacred Scripture and Eucharistic oblation. Authentic devotion to the Blessed Mother is essential as well, because it leads men in the path of her divine Son.

The Office of Vocations gives full loyalty to the Church, namely the Holy Father, the bishops, and in particular our own bishop. It is our pledge to adhere to all the teachings of the Church. Those who would be priests must believe in the value and gift of celibacy. We make no apologies for celibacy. It is a prophetic sign of God’s Kingdom. As the Church has been plagued recently by scandal internally and persecution externally, there are many who see celibacy as the problem. It is just the opposite. For those who are called to be priests, celibacy is not the problem but a great aid to pursuing the life of holiness. A man who aspires to priesthood must radically conform his life to the life of Jesus Christ who did not marry but gave himself totally to his heavenly Father for the sake of the Kingdom.

The Office of Vocations believes in a formation process that develops the entire person. Potential candidates must undergo a physical and psychological examination. The primary purpose of this is to help determine the strengths and weaknesses of the candidate. It will also help to place the seminarian in the proper academic setting. Our seminarians will be challenged spiritually, academically, personally, and pastorally so as to be ready for the grace of ordination and embracing the challenge of living the diocesan priesthood faithfully and fruitfully.

God is calling men to the priesthood. Are you one of them? The noise and distractions of our culture can cause a spiritual deafness. The Office of Vocations would like to help you hear God’s voice and discern His will for your life. If you think God is calling you the time to act is now!

The Office for Religious – Fostering Vocations to Consecrated Religious Life

The Office for Religious is available to talk with men and women who are interested in religious life. Consecrated religious life is a life of dedication lived in community according to the specific charism of the particular community. Consecrated religious men and women profess vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. Several communities of men and women religious serve within the Archdiocese of Hartford.

Discerning a vocation to religious life can be an exciting, prayerful, and sometimes confusing process. For guidance in discernment, and to learn more about this way of life, contact Sister Mariette Moan at the Office for Religious who will welcome your questions. See a list of religious orders in the Archdiocese of Hartford.

The Office of the Diaconate – Fostering Vocations to the Permanent Diaconate

The vocation of deacons was reestablished in the Church by the Second Vatican Council. The deacon’s ministry is one of service, in fact, deacons are called to be “consecrated witnesses to service” (USCCB, National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States 2005, #28). A deacon’s mission of service includes ministry of the liturgy, of the word and of charity within the local Church.

The Office of the Diaconate assists both single and married lay men to discern a call to the permanent diaconate. Please contact the Office at 860-242-5573 ext 7447 to find out more about this special vocation, its mission and the program of formation.